Holder for optical lenses



c. c. CLARK HOLDER F013 OPTICAL L'ENsus' Sept. 11, 1928.

Filed April 29, 1927 IN VEN TOR. CHHRLES C (2 19:64.

W v W TORNEYS.

Patented Sept. ,11, 1928. I ammo s r ares CHARLES C.

1,683.7!2 carrier orrrcis;

CLARK, or mmrnarorrs, INDIANA, 'a ssrenojn To eoN-rINENrnL OPTI- onncom onn rion', ornnw YORIQN. Y1, A conronltrlon.

Application filed" April 29, 1927. StialNo: 187,455?" 7 This invention pertains tb azholding'device for optical lenses; particularly adapted for use in grinding and. pol ishiu g.

I'm the manufacture of opticalilenses, itis necessary togrind and polish thorn, and the usuat method employed is mount a lens holder on a spindle properly centered and positioned-. so as to have rehttive rotary motion between the lens ant the grinding or polishing button As the lenses are generally concavo convex, the face of the holder'is annular and concave in form: for receiving the convex surface of the lens to be ground; or,

onthe oaherlmnd the face'ofthe holder may be eomvex to receive the concave surface of the lens. It has heretofore been customary to secure the surfacrrof the lensto the surface of the holder by an: adhesive,- such as pitch. However certain disadvantages are inherent in that method, since it takes sometime to remove the lens=fno1n the holder after the final operation, thus tyin p as well. as a loss 0% time by the operators. Furthermorain securing the lens-to the hold or by the use of pitch, the proper centering of the lens is not always possible. There is no means provided for centering the lens and wherein its zrxiszis slightly off center of the axis of rotatioin'the grinding and; polishing of different optical surfaces will vary correspondingly, whereby uponi the lens being cut into blanks, some will be too small and others over size. 7

The object of this invention is to provide a simple mechanical means for quickly securing 1 and permitting the ready removal of the lens to the holder and at the same time accurately center the lens thereon. This is accomplished by means of an expansible clamping ring mounted about the periphery of the holder having a screw collar fitting thereover for wedging the ring in a clamping position about the peripheral edge of the lens in such manner as to grip the same and hold it securely and firmly against the'surface of the holder and causing its peripheral edge to register With I the peripheral edge of the holder, thus properly centering it in place. By this means the lens may be rigidly mounted on or removed from the holder by giving a turn to the clamping collar. r

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying. drawings and the following description and claims:

lnthe drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevaup a number of holders tiorr showing a lens nrouuted on the holder.

Fig. 2'is a scctiontalteir on thol in'e 22 of Fig. 1. Figs at rear elevation of the holder. F] f 18131168211110 as Fig; Qshowing a modified fornr. g

In: the drawingsthere is .iho W-n aholder comprising: a spindle receiving hub" l hay=ing an annular body portion llfproVidod with a concave lens receiving: face P2. The periphery' of the body portion has the rear part thereof provided: witlr screw threads 13 and an annular groove 1 1 immediately forward thereof.-

Ren'iovably mounted adjacent the forward edge: of the body portion 1 1 there is asplit clamping ring 15,-saidi ring'haiving an annular flange. or proj cti'on 1'6 adaptedto it in the groove let so as'to be maintained in position aboutthe body portion 11. The ring is split at '17 and issufliciently resilient-to permit it to be contracted under spring tension; although normally maintaining its expanded position. The forward edge of thewring 15 extends beyond the forwardredgn of the body 11 in position to engage the periphe ral' edge of': a lens 18" to be secured"v thereby Sa id lens is adapted to fit snugly against the concave surface 12 of the body portion: within the ring 15. r I 1 F or compressingthe" ring into clamping position,v there is provided an: internally screw threaded collar 19 adapted to screw on the threads 13 of the body 11 from the rear :of the holder toward the front face thereof.

Said collar is formed with an inner beveled surface 20 adapted to engage and slide over a corresponding externally beveled surface on the ring 15, said beveled surfaces being so inclined with respect toeach other that the collar exerts a wedging action onthe ring for contracting it into clamping position against the lens. By reason of the tension of the ring, as before mentioned, upon the collar cause it to expand so to release the lens. f

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the collar 19 is screwed rear- Wardly the relative positions of the wedging surfaces between the collar and ,ring will be such as to permit the normal expansion of the ring, whereby the lens 18 may be readily ositioned against the surface 12 of the iolder. Thereupon the collar is screwed forwardly so that the wcdging surfaces will conbeing moved rearwardly out of wedging engagement, the spring tension of the ring will tract the ring and force it against the peripheral edge of the lens-for clamping and securing the lens in place as well as centering it with respect to the holder. Upon the coinpletion of the grinding'and polishing operamountingof the collar is reversed. As therein shown, the body portion 111 has no recess or groove 14, the ring 115 being mounted about an annular shoulder 114. The ring 115 is provided with an external tapering surface opposite to the ring 15 which is engaged by an inwardly-extending tapering surface 120 of the collar 119 so that the ring is contracted to clamping position by screwing the collar rearwardly from the front face of the holder instead of for 'ardly, as above mentioned. O'n the other hand, the ring is released by screwing the collarforwardly instead of rearwardly. The principal difference between the modified form and that above described is that the first-mentioned collar is screwed ontothe holder from the rear, whereas the modified form is screwed on from the front'face of the holder.v

.Whereas the invention has been described as pertaining particularly to a holder for lenses during their grinding and polishing operation, it is obvious that it may be used in many other operations wherein it is desired to temporarily secure an annular lens to a holder. Also in this connection the lens may be secured in reverse position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The invention claimed is: y

1. A holderfor optical lenses con'iprising an annular body adapted to receive an annular lens, said body being provided with an annular groove extending about the periphery thereof, a clamping ring positioned about the periphery of said body in position to engage and clamp the peripheral edge of said lens and having a flange extending into said groove for retaining said clai'i'iping ring on said body, and a collar rotatably mounted on said body in position to engage said clamping ring and contract it into clamping engagement when moved in one direction and releasing it from clamping engagen'ientwhen moved in the opposite direction.

A holder for optical lenses comprising an annular body having a concave lens recei vin g face adapted to receive.an,annular concavo convex lens thereon, said body having an annular groove formed about the peripher v thereof, a resilient split clamping ring positioned about the periphery of said body in position to engage and clamp the peripheral edge of the lens, a flange formed on said ring extending into said groove, and a screw threaded collar adapted to screw onto the periphery ofsaid body, said collar and ring having oppositely disposed beveled engaging surfaces, whereby said collar will wedge said ring into clamping engagement when screwed in one direction'and will release said ring from clamping engagement when screwed in the opposite direction.

In witness whereof, I have hereuntoafiixet my signature. 1

CHARLESC. CLARK. 

